TLP: As if There Isn't Enough @ing Going on in Washington

Twitter is certainly not new to Washington and politicians. So is it just coincidence that the Twitter Bird is finding a perch in the capital just as an election is stirring things up?

The Huffington Post reports on Twitter's hiring of former political aide and C-SPAN producer Adam Sharp:

Sharp's portfolio will not include lobbying or advocacy on issues like telecommunications policy, he told The Huffington Post. Rather, his task will involve "working with members of Congress and the Executive Branch" to help "use Twitter as a vehicle for constituents."

The irony, of course, is that D.C. is already one of the top hubs of Twitter activity in the country, with news outlets using it to disseminate breaking news and politicians increasingly engaging voters through the medium. Election nights, in particular, have demonstrated the growing influence of the forum, as everyone from operatives to beat reporters relay tidbits of news and information in 140 characters or less.

So why drop a flag in a city where Twitter use is already at an advanced stage?

"There are definitely several examples on both sides of the aisle of people who have taken tremendous advantage of the platform already," said Sharp. "This election in particular has shown the impact Twitter has on the process. But it is a big government. And, as with anything, you have the early adopters who set the tone and demonstrate the high value and then there is the next tier that just want to do something more but don't have the knowledge or appreciation of the tools."

The thing is: some politicians won't be able to contain their blathering to 140 characters. For others, of course, finding anything useful to say in those same 140 will be a challenge.